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Formula One: Lotus to call latest car the E20

Lotus' 2011 contender the R31 will be replaced by the E20, which will honor the team's longtime factory in Enstone. Photo by LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC

Lotus has confirmed that its new Formula One car will be called the E20, as it will be the 20th model to be designed at the team's factory in Enstone under the Benetton, Renault and now Lotus names.

Last year, when the team was known as Lotus Renault GP, the car was called the R31 in recognition of Renault's heritage. But the team has dropped the French company's name for the 2012 season.

“Our naming of the chassis to recognize Enstone's importance to the team's evolution highlights our recognition of the contribution of the facility and the personnel who work tirelessly every year to produce the very best car possible,” team boss Eric Boullier said.

“We certainly hope that this is the case with the E20, and we are looking forward to revealing the car to the world and seeing it out on track for the first time. There are a number of technical changes from last year, and we have an exciting new driver lineup to extract the maximum [performance] from the E20 through the 20 Grands Prix of the 2012 season, including the 500th race for this team through its different incarnations. We hope that the E20 proves to be a performing Enstone design.”